Football as one of the most popular games in the world with a massive fan base is not only played for fun. But it is also a major lucrative way one can earn a decent living. And players of Super Eagles of Nigeria are not exceptional; hence it’s important to know the richest amongst them.
Over the last decade, many Nigerian professional footballers has continued to amass wealth for themselves from pushing their football passion.
Today on NPFL UPDATES we will list top 5 Nigerian richest footballers.
Mikel Obi Super Eagles richest footballer since 2013
Name: John Mikel Obi
Net worth: N23 billion
Nigerian Super Eagles’ former captain and Chelsea icon John Mikel Obi is believed to be the richest footballer in Nigeria.
Mikel was the man of the match at the Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final victory against Burkina Faso. And the match which was held at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, saw Nigeria scoop home it’s third title.
Mikel’s 10-year stint at Chelsea gave him opportunity to nurture his career and prove his worth following the signing saga between him, Manchester United and Lyn. Mikel undoubtedly secured his bag while playing for The Blues.
He went on to play for Tianjin TEDA in 2017, a Chinese Super League Club. And at the club he earned about N66.7 million weekly; an amount that is twice of his pay at Stamford.
He’d later go on in his career to play for clubs like Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, Stoke City and Kuwait SC. And after winning big titles in club football, he announced his retirement from active football on 27th September 2022 aged 35.
Aside from his football career, Mikel is said to have launched a music record label called Mature Money Minds (MMM) with the help of his brother, Patrick Obi in 2012. It was also alleged that he owns a regional transportation company named ‘God’s Time’ that operates in Jos, Plateau State. He is a brand ambassador of many sports companies both in Nigeria and abroad.
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Ex Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo second richest
Name: Odion Ighalo
Net worth: N21 billion
Odion Ighalo is arguably Nigeria’s top richest players. Because his weekly earnings at Al-Hilal SFC and Al Shabab, a Saudi football clubs is estimated to be N60 million and N90 million weekly.
Ighalo began his career with Prime and Julius Berger. And has played for different clubs like Lyn; a Norwegian club, Udinese, Granada,Watford, Changchuan Yatal, Shanghai Shenhua, among others. Also he played for Manchester United on loan spell.
With an estimated net worth of £40 Million, Ighalo Nigeria’s second richest footballer.
Currently, Ighalo is a free agent after leaving Al Hila SFC.
Obafemi Martins Super Eagles third richest footballer
Name: Obafemi Martins
Net worth: N17 billion
Obagoal as he is fondly called due to his resilience, back-flip style of celebration anytime he scores a goal is former Super Eagles’ striker. He has participated in several matches for Nigeria. And played at Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008 and 2010. A in his club career, he has played for clubs such as Reggiana, Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Vfl Wolfsburg, and Shanghai Shenhua.
In 2005, the left-footed striker signed a contract with Inter Milan worth about N2.2 billion annually. And in 2014 his contract extension with Seattle Sounders almost doubled his annual salary with about N2.3 billion annual increment.
According to pulsesports.com Martins oversees numerous enterprises and that he also gets money via automobile imports as well as his various real estate ventures. And if course this has maintained him wealthy and affluent enough to be one of Nigeria’s richest footballers.
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Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa fourth Nigeria’s richest footballer
Name: Ahmed Musa
Net worth: N14 billion
The Sivasspor left winger is ranked as one of the top Nigerian footballers. He owns many enterprises to his name, mega sports and fitness center in Hotoro, Kano. And also a gas stations located in different part of the country.
Musa is known as the first Nigerian to score twice in a two consecutive matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018. He has played for JUTH, Kano pillars, CSKA Moscow, Leicester City, Al Nassr, among other clubs.
Musa currently plays for Sivasspor, a Turkish Super Lig club.
Name: Victor Moses
Net worth: N10 billion
Victor Moses, who presently plays for Spartak Moscow, has had an illustrious playing career for the Nigerian National Team and the several teams for which he has played.
The winger spent the majority of his career at Chelsea, but he also had loan spells with Inter Milan, Fenerbahce, West Ham, Stoke City, and Liverpool.
While playing at Inter Milan, Moses earns N78 million weekly. He also earns about N3.4 billion during his 9year time at Chelsea
Moses also gets his bag from his enterprises and sponsorship deals over the years.
And now, Serie A highest goalscorer Victor Osimhen, is expected to take over the chart as he is about to sign a seven billion Naira annual salary at Napoli.
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